Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Mercury 1998 60 hp 2-cycle Tachometer - options and wiring

Posted by heimtun on 07/31/16 - 5:13 AM
#1

I'd like to install a tach on my motor.
- is there a wire in the wiring loom for a tach
- any suggestions for cost effective tachs
- any thoughts appreciated
TIA
Wayne

Posted by fitz73222 on 07/31/16 - 5:49 AM
#2

heimtun wrote:
I'd like to install a tach on my motor.
- is there a wire in the wiring loom for a tach
- any suggestions for cost effective tachs
- any thoughts appreciated
TIA
Wayne


Hi Wayne,
Your keyswitch harness has the wires you need to wire the tach. You will need to splice into the 3 wires.
1) Purple- this is the keyswitch activated 12 volts to feed to the + terminal on the back of the tach.

2) Gray- this is the signal wire coming from your stator in the engine that sends the rotation pulse that tells the tach the engine RPMs, the gray is connected to the S terminal on the back of the tach.

3) Black- this is the ground wire that connects to the (-) terminal on the back of the tach.

There will be a small switch on the back of the tach that you gently depress and rotate to the 12 pole setting which is what your alternator is.
A good reasonably priced tach that I've used on several of my boats is a Marpac 0-6000 rpm for around $50 which you can get with a black or white gage face. Surplus Unlimited down here in Daytona Beach sells them online, I've used this company for over 20 years and know the owners personally. Additionally, you are going to need to find a good visible mounting location an will need a 3 3/8 hole saw and bore a hole to mount the gage.
This is an easy install and the most heartache is boring the hole in your beautiful console so you only want to do that once!!!

Posted by heimtun on 07/31/16 - 6:59 AM
#3

Cool - thanks!

Posted by heimtun on 08/13/16 - 6:32 AM
#4

Been looking at tachs. The Marpac is made by Faria - it looks like it may have once been made by Teleflex, I think. Does anyone know if this is correct? If so, are the newer Faria ones any good
I've also seen OEM Merc tachs for sale - any thoughts between OEM Merc vs Faria vs "other"
Thanks - too many choices.